Tokyo: Oreimo

Ryosuke Takagi's gaze lingered strangely on the two faces, and he also noticed their tightly clasped hands.

Ordinary friends wouldn't be this intimate, would they? Shouldn't this be something couples do?

Could it be that my younger sister is a lesbian?

Ryosuke had a thoughtful expression on his face, recalling Aragaki Ruri's hostility earlier.

Oh, I see. Is it really that fashionable? This is the 90s, after all.

Was that murderous look in her eyes just because she was worried I'd steal her away?

That makes sense; children in blended families live under the same roof even though they are not related by blood.

If the two people in front of you really are in that kind of relationship, then it makes perfect sense that they would be so hostile.

Ryosuke Takashiro had no prejudice against this matter; the social atmosphere thirty years ago was far more complex than it is now.

Leaving aside lesbians, even gay men can be friends as long as they're not targeting him.

"Thank you for your concern. I also hope you can be friends for life. I'm entrusting Ling Nai to you."

Ryosuke Takagi winked at Ruri Aragaki and gave her a subtle look.

"Huh?"

Ruri Aragaki was stunned. She thought that the other person might not have noticed at all, or might have shown a look of incomprehension.

But to my utter surprise, the other party's response was something only a father would say when marrying off his daughter.

Did he notice?

"What are you talking about, you idiot?"

Upon hearing this, Takashiro Ryouno immediately flew into a rage.

Did I say something wrong?

Ryosuke was somewhat confused.

Weren't you the ones who tested me first? You clearly expressed your agreement and best wishes.

"It's inexplicable. He said strange things in front of my friends, and acted like an elder. It's disgusting."

“…”

Ryosuke was speechless.

When Ruri Aragaki saw this, she burst out laughing.

"What are you laughing at, Liuli?"

"It's nothing, I just think my brother is really a good person."

You've got it completely wrong, brother. He might be an ally.

Ruri Aragaki's gaze towards Ryosuke changed, even showing a hint of reverence.

She did like Ling Nai, but it was only one-sided. Although she had tried her best to express her feelings, this was the first time someone had noticed and publicly acknowledged her feelings.

Even Ling Nai herself did not notice her almost abnormal affection.

This feeling is like finding a kindred spirit?

"Huh? What nonsense are you talking about, Liuli?"

Ryosuke Takagi glared angrily at Ryosuke and tried to pull Ruri Aragaki away, but her friend didn't budge.

Just then, a staff member waved to Ling Nai.

"Excuse me for disturbing you, sir. Could someone please come over and fill out some personal information?"

Takagi Ryouno realized that she had paid in cash at the counter earlier and was then pulled over by Aragaki Ruri to say hello.

The staff had already picked up the new machine.

"Ling Nai, please go and handle this first. I still want to say a few words to my elder brother."

Ruri Aragaki whispered in her ear.

"Ok."

Ling Nai nodded, then glared fiercely at Takashiro Ryosuke, "You'd better not say anything weird to Ruri!"

After saying that, she jogged back to the counter.

...

After confirming that Ling Nai had left, Aragaki Ruri lowered her voice and stared into Ryosuke's eyes as she spoke:

"I heard from Ling Nai that my older brother went to the manga editing department at the Kadokawa Building today. What was he doing there?"

“There are some private matters.”

Ryosuke Takagi answered casually.

He didn't even plan to tell his mother, so naturally he wouldn't tell someone he had just met, even if that person was a beautiful girl.

"Is it inconvenient to talk about? Like how Ling Nai draws comics in private?"

How perceptive this girl is! It seems that ordinary excuses won't work.

Ryosuke Takagi sighed.

"Just as you thought, but unlike Ling Nai, I write light novels."

"So you've gotten on the good side with Editor Iori too, right?"

"We just had a brief chat."

"That's not all, is it? They called to beg for mercy and offered three times the compensation."

Ryosuke Takagi raised his eyebrows.

As he expected, the editor, Iori, voluntarily gave in.

There is no right or wrong in the adult world, but there are considerations of self-interest.

The fact that Ling Nai signed the commissioned writing contract cannot be changed. If she wants to change the contract, she will have to wait for her next work.

Using the suspension of publication as leverage to obtain triple compensation is enough to make the other party suffer a significant loss.

He didn't intend to mention this to anyone; it was just a small favor.

But Ruri Aragaki guessed it immediately.

That's really clever.

"You really are a responsible older brother. With you by Ling Nai's side, I feel much more at ease."

"You flatter me. My surname is also Gao Cheng. This is just my duty."

"Aren't you going to tell Ling Nai?"

Do you want me to tell her?

Of course not.

"Then I won't say anything."

"Huh? Why?"

"Isn't this what you wanted? Besides, it's just a trivial matter."

Ryosuke Takagi said indifferently.

Ruri Aragaki looked at him with some surprise.

Is it insignificant?

As someone who works in the modeling industry, she has one foot in the workplace. Kadokawa's relationship with Takashiro Ryono and Takashiro Ryosuke is like her relationship with the magazine.

As a model, especially a newcomer, there is no room for negotiation with the magazine.

It's unbelievable that Ryosuke was able to secure triple compensation for Ayano and get Editor Iori to personally apologize and beg for forgiveness.

Although she had a general idea that the other party was threatening to suspend publication, it was still quite impressive that it had such an effect.

"Brother, you are too modest."

"By the way, how long has this relationship between you two been going on?"

Ryosuke glanced at Ayano fiddling with information sheets at the counter next door and suddenly asked a question.

"Huh?" Ruri Aragaki suddenly felt her heart beating very fast.

He really figured it out.

"Never mind, let's talk about it later."

Ryosuke saw the time on his phone; it was almost 1 a.m., and decided not to chat any longer.

He turned to leave, planning to grab a quick bite and try to contact his online friend to see if they could meet in person.

Suddenly, Ruri Aragaki reached out and grabbed the hem of his clothes.

"and many more!"

She took her phone out of her pocket.

"Excuse me, but may I exchange phone numbers with you, elder brother?"

Ruri Aragaki seemed afraid that Ryosuke wouldn't hear her, so she subconsciously raised her voice.

Takashiro Ryouno, who was filling out information next door, turned around and looked over when she heard the sound.

"What are you doing, Ruri?"

Takashiro Ryou was completely stunned; she felt as if she were meeting her best friend for the first time.

Liuli actually took the initiative to ask the boy for his contact information; this was the first time this had happened since they had been friends for so long.

And the object of his affections was none other than his own suddenly appearing bookish older brother.

Chapter 11 Going Home

The moment she made the move, Aragaki Ruri regretted it.